frugivorous

American  

[froo-jiv-er-uhs] / fruˈdʒɪv ər əs /

adjective

1. fruit-eating, as certain bats.

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frugivorous British  

/ fruːˈdʒɪvərəs /

adjective

1. feeding on fruit; fruit-eating

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Etymology

Origin of frugivorous

First recorded in 1705–15; from Latin frūgi-, combining form of frūx “fruit, crops, produce” + combining form -vorus “devouring”; see origin at frugal ( def. ), -vorous

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Explanation

An animal that eats fruit is frugivorous. Famously frugivorous creatures include orangutans and fruit bats. Just as most humans are omnivorous, eating a variety of foods, and meat-eaters are carnivorous, animals that feast primarily on fruit are described as frugivorous. The word derives from the Latin frux, "fruit or produce," and vorare, "to devour." Animals like the South American maned wolf, many parrots, and the toucan are all considered frugivorous, because fruit makes up the majority of their diet.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

frugivorous

As humans fragment the forests — that is, break large forests into smaller patches through construction and other environmentally destructive practices — the scientists learned that they restrict the movement of important frugivorous birds.

From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2024

But how does the waxwing, among the most frugivorous of birds, know the crop is ready?

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 29, 2022

Nine years ago, Simon Ripperger was studying frugivorous — that is, fruit-eating — bats in Costa Rica.

From Washington Post ● May 11, 2020

Fruits use aromatic oils and alcohols to deter the growth of bacteria and attract seed-dispersing frugivorous animals.

From New York Times ● Dec. 1, 2018

The sudden deaths to which great numbers of frugivorous birds are annually exposed must not be omitted as auxiliary to the transportation of seeds to new habitations.

From Principles of Geology or, The Modern Changes of the Earth and its Inhabitants Considered as Illustrative of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell

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